Separable fastener



Nov. 14', 1939. B. PRUZAN 2,180,167

SEPARABLE FASTENER Filed Jan. 25, 1958 y.Bczzwug Prwzarg @gw MPM);

Patented Nov. 14, 1939 I l y l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,180,167SEPARABLE FASTENER Barney Pruzan, New York, N. Y.

Application January 25, 1938, Serial No. 186,876 f 1s claims. (c1..c4-205) My invention relates to improvements in sepspecification. Myinvention is clearlydened in arable fasteners, and has to do, moreparticuthe appended claims. A structure constituting larly, with theconstruction of separable end cona preferred embodiment of my inventionis illusnections for such fasteners. trated in the accompanying drawing,in which- While separable end connections or bottom Figure 1 is a planView of one side of a slide 5 stops" for slide fasteners are well knownin the fastener provided with a separable bottom-stopv art and arebeingfurnlshed to the trade by a constituting a preferred embodiment ofmy innumber of manufacturers, such existing convention;

structions are characterized by certain objec- Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe other side of the tionable manufacturing and structural features,same structure; f -10 the elimination and correction of -which consti-Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tute the principalpurpose of the 'present invenentire structure; tion. More specifically,lack of rigidity is a rec- Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View of thel ognlzed characteristic of separable bottom-stops structure, taken onthe line 4 4 of Fig. 3; I5 heretofore devised. In no prior artconstruction Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view through the 15 y withwhich I am familiar has lateral exure o-r male member of the structure,said View being "hinginess along the axis` of fastening been taken onthe line 5-5 of Fig, 1 and illustrating eliminated to an extent`suilicient to relieve the the manner in which the male member isseadjacent interlocked teeth of the fastener proper cured to itsassociated stringer;

of torsional strains tending to cause their in- Fig. 6 is a detailsectional view through the 20 adventent dissociation. female member ofthe structure, said view illus- Accordingly, it is a primary object ofmy prestrating the manner in which the outer tongue ent invention toprovide a separable bottom-stop of one wing portion is curled about aportion for slide fasteners which is characterized by of thelongitudinal edge of the female membergreater rigidity and resistance toflexure than oband upon the opposite wing portion thereon; 25 tainablewith previous constructions. Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view throughthe It is also an object of my invention to profemale member of thestructure, said View being vide a separable bottom-stop for slidefasteners taken on vthe line 1-1 of Fig. 3 and illustrating which may bemore securely attached to the conthe manner in which the inner tongue ofone ventional Stringer which carries the interlocking wing portion iscurled about a longitudinally- 30 teeth of the slide fastener and whichmaterially inwardly-extending lug portion integral with the enhances thestrength of the terminalportions of other Wing portion of the femalemember; the stringers with which it is assembled. Fig. 8 is aperspective view of the re-formed It is another object of my inventionto provide blank for the m'ale member preparatory to asa novel,one-piece structural design for the fesembly with its Stringer; and 35male member of a bottom-stop for slide fasten- Fig. 9 is a perspectiveview of the blank for the ers', which design is characterized by theunique female member prior to folding and assembly fact that theStringer-clamping, pin-socket-conwith its stringe-r.

stituting wing portions of the member extend Figures 4, 6 and 7 aredrawn on an enlarged '40y longitudinally upward from a common foldscale.' 40

which lies along the end edge of the associated The same referencenumerals refer to the Stringersame parts throughout the several views.

Further Objects 0f my invention are t0 prO- In a broad sense, myinvention is distinguished Vide a separable bottom-Stop COnSIllCliOnvfOr from prior art constructions in several aspects. slide fastenerswhich is attractive, inexpensive Fundamentally, the male member and thefemale 45 to manufacture, easy to operate, and sufciently member whichembody it are each of one-piece y rugged and Weer-resistant t0 Outlvethe garment construction. The association of male with or other articlewith which it is adapted for use. female member is characterized by thepresence Still further objects, and objects relating to of a key andslot relationship along two longitudetails and economies ofconstruction, installadinal axes, one at each'side of the pin axis of 50tion and use will more definitely appear to those the male member, allthree of which axes lie in skilled in rthis art upon familiarizationwith the what might be defined as the common plane of detaileddescription to follow. In one instance, assembly of the two members. Thedirect result I accomplish the objects of my invention by the of thisdistinguishing feature of my invention is means and methods set forth inthefollowing the material reduction or substantial elimination ofhinginess" of such separable bottom-stops along their axis ofconnection, whereby localized piercing strains, to which the adjacentinterlocked teeth of the slide fastener are frequently subjected, aremore safely withstood. In the case of the "hingey" separable stopconstructions of th'e prior art, a localized piercing strain upon, say,the first half dozen teeth, may easily ".pop these teeth apart,necessitating a difficult reassociation of the disengaged toothelements. With my relativelyrigid bottom-stop construction, the adjacentinterlocked fastener elements or teeth are, in a sense, reinforced orprotected against such strains, and inadvertent dissociation of thefastening at this point is substantially precluded.

The male and female elements which, when assembled, constitute myimproved separable bottom-stop for slide fasteners are also individuallydistinguished from corresponding prior art elements. The female memberof my construction consists of one piece of metal or the like which isfolded along the end edge of its associated iiexble Stringer to formstringerclamping wing portions. These wing portions are provided withlateral extensions formed into a split, pin-receptive socket disposed atthe 1ongitudinal or fastening edge of the Stringer. Since the side edgesof said wing portions are inherently unattached, the split or slottedsocket may be die-formed without a slot-cutting operation. Though formedin the open side of the blank, my slotted socket 1s, nevertheless,sufficiently sturdy to resist spreading, due to the provision of uniqueclamping tongues integral with a wing portion of the female member,wh'ch tongues are curled about the longitudinal edge of the associatedstringer clamping said wing portions together, adjacent each end of thesocket. The clamping tongues mentioned also have utility in theirrelationship with the pin portion of the male member in that the lowerclamping tongue serves as a cam which urges the lower end of the pin ofthe male member laterally outwardly as it approaches nal assembly withthe female member, thus canting the pin in the socket and bringing theadjoining terminal portions of the stringers into substantialparallelism and closure.

The male member o f my preferred construction herein illustrated is alsoindividually novel in that secure assembly thereof with the tape orstringer is possible without piercing the tape. In accordance with aconcept of.. my invention, the tape is clamped upon the tape bylaterally extending wing portions having the tubular longitudnal pin astheir common fold, maintenance of clamped relationship being effected bya wide tongue integral with one of said wing portions and crimped overupon the other wing portion along the end edge of the associated tape orstringer. Preferably, and more specifically, the end of the tape isextended and folded back upon one wing member so that the extension ofthe tape is clamped between the outer surface of said wing member andthe crimped tongue. The security afforded by such anassociatlon of malemember with tape is unexcelled by any method of the prior art.

More specifically, and with reference to the accompanying drawing, myinvention is preferably embodied in a separable bottom-stop for slidefasteners consisting of one-piece male and female members "A and B,respectively. These members are adapted to beu associated in a commonplane. as shown in wigs. l, 2 and 3,

by longitudinal insertion of the pin I0 of the male member into thesocket II of the female member. The socket of the female member isenlarged at its portion Il to facilitate such insertion, but the lowerportion IIb thereof is of 5 a size such as to contact the fully seatedpin III more snugly, due to opposing contact of the lower end of the pinwith another portion of the member B, other functions of which are laterto be described. l0

The female member B of the structure is formed from a single sheet ofmetallic or equivalent material and includes a pair of wing portions I2and I3 formed by folding of the blank along the line :r whichcorresponds, generally, 15

to the end edge of thestringer I4 with which the female member is to beassociated. The folded portion of the member is extended laterallybeyond the longitudinal edge of the stringer I4 to constitute a pin stopI5. Each of the wing portions I2 and I3 is provided with laterallyextending portions which are shaped to constitute the socket IIpreviously described. This socket II is, being formed from extensions ofthe sides of the wing portions I2 and I3, open or slotted in character.The wing portions I2 and I3 are clamped flatly upon opposite faces ofthe Stringer I4, and such clamped relationship is maintained by tongueportions I6 and I 1 integral with the wing portion I2. The tongueportion I6 is curled about the longitudinal edge of the Stringer Ilandbears upon the Wing portion I3 adjacent the smaller end of the socketII. The tongue portion I1 is similarly curled about the longitudinaledge of the strnger I4 and serves to clamp down a small lug I8 which isformed as a part of the Wing portion I3 adjacent the socket thereof.Preferably, the lug I8 is of lesser thickness than the normal thicknessof the wing portion I3, whereby the tongue I1 lies substantially evenwith the wing portion I3 of the finished article. Where the constructionis adapted for use with stringers of the tape type provided with abeaded edge for the reception of interlocking fastener elements, thewing portions I3 and I4 are, at their line of association with saidbeaded edge, died into slightly tubular form. In such a construction,the lug I8 is, in a sense, a thin extension of the tubular portion ofthe wing portion I3, and thetongue I1 clipped upon said extension I3 hasthe appearance of a continuation of the tubular portion of the wingportion I3. It will be appreciated that, in the construction justdescribed, the portion of the Stringer I4 which is interposed betweenthe wing portions I2 and I3 provides a definite spacing therebetween,and the tongues I6-and I1v which clampthe wings 'I2 and I3 preventspreading thereof and insure maintenance of size in the socket II. Theslots IIc and IId of the socket are inherent in the structure described,and a definite width for these slots may be readily established bythedies which are employed for the forming of the blank, considerationbeing given to the thickness of the stringer with which the structure isto be assembled.

The male member A of the construction illustrated is also formed from asingle piece of sheet stock by suitable dieing operations. Asdistinguished from the female member, the wing portions I 9 and 20 ofthe male member are joined by a common fold which lies along thelongitudinal. commonly beaded edge of the Stringer with which it is tobe assembled. This common fold takes the form of a tubular pin portion2i formed about the beaded edge of the strnger and closed at its outerend. The stringer- 22 which carries the male member is interposedbetween the wing portions I9 and 20 and is preferably extended over andfolded back upon the wing portion 20 for a short distance, as shown.Upon this folded-back portionv 22a of the Stringer, a Wide tongue 23,integral with the end of the wing portion I9, is clamped. There is thuseffected not only a clamping of the wing portions I9 and 20 upon themain body of the tape 22, but a clamping of the extension of the tape 22between the wing portion 20 and the tongue 23. Obviously, as shown inFig. l, the portion 22a of the tape is trimmed back slightly from thepin portion 2|, in order to avoid interference with assembly of the pin2I and the socket II. Limitation of the extent of insertion of pin withsocket is assured by the abutment of the closed end of the pin 2| withthe stop I5 of the female member.

Apart from the novelty of the male and female members, consideredindividually, the

structure disclosed in the drawing is characterized by a novel keyedrelationship of male and female member, whereby hinge action betweenthese members is substantially precluded, as distinguished from allprior art constructions for the same general purpose. Specifically,vthis elimination of hinginess is obtained by -a keyingv of the malemember in the diametrically op-` posed slots provided at opposite sidesof the pin axis of the socket II. The slot or key-way IId of the socketis formed with a definite width corresponding to, or slightly lessthan,the thickness of the male member along a line just inward of the pinportion proper 2|. As a result, inser- 'tion of the pin 2| into thesocket II is characterized by a light frictional contact of the wallsdefining the slot IId with the pin-adjacent surfaces of the wings I9 and20 of the male member. A slight variation in size and thickness isAcharacteristic of all small sheet metal articles formed by die-shapingoperations. Hence, the fit of the tubular pin portion 2| with theportion IIb of the socketcannot be relied upon to insure completeelimination of a tendency toward hinging afforded solely by the fit ofthe Wing portions I9 and 20 with the socket slot IId. Accordingly, Ihave provided additional key means which, in co-operation with the keyand slot arrangement just described, precludes hinge action between pinand socket to such an effective extent as to eliminate a large-portionofthe strain otherwise frequently exerted upon the immediately adjacentinterlocking fastener elements commonly mounted upon the beaded edges ofthe tapes I4 and 22. This supplementary or co` operative key meanscomprises a key portion 24 embossed out of or otherwise provided uponthe pin portion 2| of the male member. This key portion 24 is, in theembodiment disclosed, diametrically opposed with respect to the wingportions I9 and 20 of the male member and is of a width corresponding tothe width of the socket slot II. The socket II of the female member isprovided with an enlarged portion IIB, as 'ha-s been explained. Thurs,as is conventional and desirable, the pin portion 2| of the male mem'ber may be longitudinally inserted into the socket II at an acute anglewith respect to the true axis thereof. Because of this ability forinitial linsertion at an acute angle, the pin key 24 encounters nointerference from the curled tongue Ilof the female member. However, asthe upper end of the key 24 clears the tongue I1 and enters the socket,the lower or closed end of the pin 2| encounters the tongue I6 of thefemale member, urging said closed end laterally outwardly against thereduced portion IIb of the socket. This laterally outward movement ofthe lower end of the male member effects lateral inward movement of theupper portion of the male member such as to induce engagement of the key24 within the slot IIc of the socket.` Thus engaged, the relativelyabrupt terminus of the key 24 precludes material retraction of the pinfrom the socket, due to the function of the curled tongue I 'I as a stopfor the key 24. AIn actual manufacturing practice, it has been founddesirable to adjust the tongues I6 and II laterally with respect to thesocket axis. This may be accomplished either in the actual operation ofcurling these tongues about the beaded edge of the associated Stringer,or by a subsequent flattening pressure or blow administered to thetongues after they have been so curled. The

proper disposition of the tongue I6 with respect 1 bring the upperportion of the pin 2| into close relation with the curled tongue II. Thetongue I'I may, if desired, be flattened slightly, after its curleddisposition upon the boss I8 and the beaded edge of the tape 22.

The operation of the construction illustrated should be clear from theforegoing description. The male and female members are tightly clampedupon -their respective tapes by the wing portions I9, 20,', and I2, I3,respectively, due to the effectiveness of the tongues Z3 and I6, I'I,respectively. In practice, the width of the socket slot IId isproportioned to the thickness of the male member assembled with itsStringer. Likewise, the key 24, embossed outwardly from the pin portion2| of the male member, is of a. width corresponding to the width of theinner socket slot IIC. Substantially complete elimination of hinginessalong the pin axis is thus assured. Guidance of the pin into properkeyed relationship with the socket is Iassured through thesupplementalfunction of the lower tongue I6 as a cam surface coactive with the lowerend of the pin during the final portion of the insertive movement of thepin into abutment with the stop I5. The stop I5, as is conventional inthis art, assures proper alinement of the usual interlocking fasteningelements Y and Z carried by the respective beaded edges of the `Stringertapes 'means by which the male and female -members are secured to theirrespective stringers is not essential to the' realization of the keyedassociation of male and female members. For example, it is obvious thatthe tape might be clamped entirely between the wing portions I 9 and 20of the male member. While the tongues I6 and I1 of the female member areformed as extensionsv of its wing portion I2 and serve, not only toclamp the wings I2 and I3 of that member into securement with theinterposed tape I4, but serve also as a cam and stop for the pin 2| andits key 23, these functions might be individually accomplished bydistinct instrumentalities, without departing from the basic principlesof my invention. Further changes and variations should be obvious tothose skilled in the art. Accordingly, I claim my invention broadly, asindicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A disengageable end connection for a separable fastener havinginterlocking fastener elements mounted on Vflexible stringers and meansfor associating and dissociating said interlocking elements at will,comprising: a female member provided with a longitudinally-slottedsocket portion, a male member provided with a pin portion associablewith said socket portion by longitudinal insertion thereinto, means forlimiting the extent of said longitudinal movement of said male member,and means for resisting rotation of said pin in said socket when thusassociated, said means comprising substantially parallel outstanding keyportions on said male member disposed along opposite sides of said pinportion, one said key portion being snugly received in the slot of saidsocket portion and the other being snugly received in another keywayformed in said socket portion.

2. A disengageable end connection for a separable fastener havinginterlocking fastener elements mounted on flexible stringers and meansfor associating and dissociating said interlocking elements at will,comprising: a female member having a lateral Wing portion adapted fox`ilatwise attachment to one stringer and provided with alongitudinally-slotted socket portion, a male member having a lateralwing portion adapted for flatwise attachment to the other stringer andprovided with a pin portion associable with said socket portion bylongitudinal insertion thereinto, means for limiting the extent of saidlongitudinal movement of said male member, and means for maintainingsaid winged male and female members in substantially nflexible planarassociation, comprising a portion of the wing portion of said malemember snugly engaged with the slot walls of the socket portion of saidfemale member and a diametricallyoppositely-opposed key extendinglaterally outwardly from said pin portion and snugly engaged in a keywayformed in said socket portion in the plane of and adjacent the wingportion of said female member.

3. A disengageable end connection for a separable fastener havinginterlocking fastener elements mounted on flexible stringers and meansfor associating and dissociating said interlocking elements at will,comprising; a female member having a pair of Wing portions clampedlongitudinally inwardly upon one end of one Stringer, each said wingportion being provided with a lateral extension constituting, with thatof the other wing portion, a slotted socket portion lying along the axisof fastening of its Stringer, a male member having a pair of Wingportions clamped upon the corresponding end of the other Stringer andprovided, along the axis of fastening of its stringer, with a pinportion associable with said socket portion by longitudinal insertionthereinto, means for limiting the extent of said longitudinal movementof said male member, and

means for maintaining said winged male andl female members insubstantially planar association, comprising: slot walls of said socketportion snugly engagedwith the wing portions of said male memberadjacent the pin portion thereof and a.diametrically-oppositely-disposed key integral with said pin portionsnugly received within alongitudinal keyway defined by the line ofjuncture of the wing portions of said female member with theirsocket-constituting lateral extensions.

4. A disengageable end connection for a separable fastener havinginterlocking fastener elements mounted on a pair of flexible tapes andmeans for associating said interlocking elements at will, comprising: afemale member having a pair of wing portions clamped longitudinallyinwardly upon the end edge of one tape, said wing portions having acommon fold portion along said end edge and a lateral extension thereofconstituting a terminal stop, a lateral extension on each of said wingportions constituting a slotted socket portion lying on the axis offastening of the clamped tape, a male member having a pair of Wingportions clamped upon the corresponding end of the other tape andprovided, along the axis of fastening of the latter, with a pin portionassociable with said stop and socket portions by longitudinal insertioninto said socket portion, and means for maintaining said winged male andfemale members in substantially inflexible planai association,comprising: slot walls of said socket portion snugly engaged with thewing portions of said male member adjacent the pin portion thereof and adiametrically-oppositelydisposed key integral with said pin portionsnug- 1y received within a longitudinal keyway defined by the line ofjuncture of the wing portions of said female member with theirsocket-constituting lateral extensions.

ments mounted upon a pair of flexible tapes and means for associatingsaid interlocking elements at will, comprising: a female member having apair of wing portions joined by a folded portion lying along the endedge of said tape, each of said wing portions being provided, along thefastening edge of its clamped tape, with a lateral extensionconstituting, with that of the other Wing portion, a double-slottedsocket lying on the axis of fastening of said interlocking elements,means for rmly clamping said Wing portions upon said tape to secure saidsocket slots against spreading, said last means consisting of tonguesintegral with and bridging said wing portions adjacent each end of saidsocket, a male member having a pair of wing portions clamped upon thecorresponding end of the other tape and provided, along the axis offastening of the tape, with a pin portion associable with said socket bylongitudinal insertion thereinto, means forl limiting the extent of saidlongitudinal movement of said male member, and double key means on saidmale member snugly engageable in said socket slots for maintaining saidWinged male and female members in substantially inflexible planarassociation, said key means consisting of wing portions of said malemember receivable in the outer slot and adiametrically-oppositelydisposed key outwardly embossed from said pinportion and receivable in the inner slot of said socket.

6. A disengageable end connection for a separable 'fastener havinginterlocking fastener elements mounted on flexible tapes and means forassociatingand dissociating said interlocking elements at will,comprising: a one-piece male element consisting of a pair of wingmem'bers sandwched upon one tape at its initial fastening corner andinherently united along the longitudinal fastening edge of said tape bya seamless web integral with both wing members and bent into tubular pinform, and means for securing said male element to said tape comprisinga. tongue on one of said wing members bent across the end edge of saidtape and b ack upon the face of the other wing member clamping saidwing. members together upon the interposed portion of said tape, aone-piece female element consisting'of a. second pair of wing memberssandwiched upon the other of said tapes at its initial fastening cornerand inherently united along the end edge of the therebetween-interposedtape by a seamless tie portion integral with both wing members of saidfemale element, an integral channel-shaped'lateral extension on each ofsaid Wing members, said lateral extensions jointly constituting alongitudinally-slotted socket lying along the axis of fastening andadapted to snugly receive complementary pin` and wing-portions of saidmale element, means for securely clamping the wing members of saidfemale element upon their interposed tape to maintain theirlsocketconstituting extensions in rigidly-fixed spaced relation, .andmeans for limiting the extent of insertive movement of said male pinportion into the socket of said female element. I

7. A disengageable end connection for a separable fastener havinginterlocking fastenenelements mounted'upon a pair of flexible tapes andmeans for' associating and dissociating said interlocking elements atwill, comprising: a onepiece female member having a pairvof integralwing portions joined by a folded portion lying `along theend edge of onetape, a lateral extension on each of'said wing portions jointlyconstituting a slotted socket lying on the fastening axis of saidinterlocking elements and means clamping the free ends of said wingportions together upon said tape to secure said socket againstspreading, said last means comprising a tongue extending laterallyoutwardly from one of said Wing portions, curled about the longitudinaledge of said tape and terminally engaged with the other Wing portion andwith said tape, a male member having a pin portion receivable withinsaid socket and an integral key portion engageable with the slot of saidsocket to maintain said associated male and female membersin planarassociation and stop means for limiting the' longitudinal movement ofsaid male member .relative to said female member in one direction.

8. A disengageable end connection for a separable fastener havinginterlocking fastener elements mounted upon a pair of exible tapes andmeans for associating said interlocking elements at will, comprising: afemale member having a pair Aof wing portions joined by a folded-portion lying along the; end edge of one tape, each of said Wingportions being provided, along the fastening edge of its clamped tape,with a lateral extension constituting, with that ofthe other wingportion, a double-slotted socket lying on the axis of fastening of saidinterlocking elements, means for rmly clamping said wing portions uponsaid tape to secure said socket slots against spreading, said last meansconsisting of tongues integral with -and bridging said wing Aportionsadjacent each end of said socket, a male member having a pair of wingportions clamped upon. the corresponding end of the other tape andprovided, along the axis of fastening of the tape, with a pin portionassociable with said socket by longitudinal insertion thereinto, doublekey means on said male member snugly engagelable in said socket -slotsfor maintaining said said pin portion, said pin portion, embossed-key,

socket and tongues having such relative size, configuration and locationas to positively induce said embossed key to move laterally intointerlocked engagement with the inner slot of said socket duringcompletion of said longitudinal insertive movement and means forlimiting said longitudinal insertive movement of said male member.

9. A disengageable bottom stop for slideactuated tape fastenerscomprisingz. a female member having a spaced ,pair of tape-clamping wingportions joined by a fold lying along the end edge of the thus-clampedtape, a channelshaped lateral extension on each of said wing portions,said extensions jointly constituting a double-slotted socket lying alongthe fastener axis, a male member having a spaced pair of tape-clampingwing portions joined by a tubular pin portion lying along the fasteneraxis of its clamped tape, said pin and its associated Wing portionsbeing insertable in said socket and the outer slot thereof respectively,means for limiting the extent of insertion of said pin into said socket,and means for detachably interlocking said maleV and female memberscomprising a tapered key onsaid pin portion snugly receivable Within theinner slot of said socket and tongues bridging the Wing portions of saidfemale member at each end of its socket, the .tongue at the entrant endofsaid socket constituting an end wall for said inner slot, and thetongue at the other end of said socket having the function of a camcooperative with the Walls of said socket and said pin and effective toinduce entry of said pin key into said inner socket slot in abuttingrelation with said rst-mentioned tongue.

10. A disengageable bottom stop' for slideactuated tape fastenerscomprising: a female member having a spaced pair of tape-clamping wingportions joined by a fold lying along the end edge of the thus-clampedtape, a channel'- shaped lateral extension on each of said wingportions, said extensions jointly constituting a double slotted`taperedsocket lying along the fastener axis, a male` member lhaving aspaced pair of tape-clamping wing portions joined by a 'tubular pinportion lyingalong the fastener axis of its thus-clamped tape, said pinand its associated wing portions being insertable in said socket and theouter slot thereof respectively, means for limiting the extent ofinsertion of said pin into said socket, and means for detachablyinterlocking said male and female members comprising a correspondinglytapered key on said pin portion snugly receivable Within the inner slotof said tapered socket and means for guiding said key into interlockedassociation with the walls of said inner slot, said last meansconsisting of a pair of tongues bridging the wing portions of saidfemale member at each end of its tapered socket, the tongue at thelarger end of said socket constituting an end wall for said inner slotand the tongue at the smaller end of said socket serving, with the wallsthereof, to induce entry of said pin key into said inner'slotimmediately upon its clearance of said end-wallconstituting tongue.

the end edge of the thus-clamped tape and extended laterally across thefastener axis to constitute a stop for the male member of the fastener,an integral channel-shaped lateral extension on each of said wingportions, said extensions jointly constituting a double-slotted taperedsocket lying along the fastener axis, a male member having a spaced pairof tape-clamping wing portions joined by a tubular-pin portion lyingalong the fastener axis of its thus-clamped tape, said pin portion beingreceivable within said socket in abutment with said stop and with thewing portions of said male member snugly received in the outer slot ofsaid socket, and

means for detachably interlocking said male and female memberscomprising: a key on said pin portion having a taper correspondinggenerally` to that of said socket, an abutment constituting an end wallfor the inner slot of said socket, said abutment consisting of a tongueintegral with one wing portion of said female member, bridging said slotadjacent the larger end of said socket and clamped upon the other wingportion of said female member, and a similar bridging tongueintermediate the socket and stop of said female member, said pin and keybeing so proportioned and located with respect to said socket, stop andbridging tongues as to induce automatic entry of said key into saidinner slot during final assembly of said male and female members limitedby abutment of said pin portion with said stop.

12. In a pin and socket connection for slideactuated tape fasteners, aone-piece socket construction comprising a s'paced pair of wing memberssandwiched upon the conventional tape at its initial fastening cornerand joined by an integral tie portion lying along the end edge of saidtape, an integralv channel-shaped lateral extension on each of said wingmembers, said extensions jointly constituting a slotted socket extendingbeyond said tape land lying along the fastener axis, and means forclamping said wing members securely upon said tape and maintaining saidextensions in substantially rigid, fixed relation with respect to eachother.

13. In a pin and socket connection for slideactuated tape fasteners, aone-piece socket construction comprising a spaced pair of wing memberssandwiched upon the conventional tape at its initial fastening cornerand formed by an integral tie portion lying along the end edge of saidtape, an integral channel-shaped lateral extension on each of said wingmembers, said extensions jointly constituting a slotted socket extendingbeyond the longitudinal edge of said tape and lying along the fasteneraxis, and means for clamping said wing members securely upon said tapeand maintaining said extensions in substantially rigid, fixed relationwith respect to each other, said means comprising a second lateralextension on one of said wing members bridging the longitudinal edge ofsaid tape and clamped upon the other wing member, said lastmentionedelement being disposed adjacent the otherwise untied ends of said wingmembers.

14. In a. pin and socket connection for slideactuated tape fasteners, aone-piece socket construction comprising a spaced pair of wing memberssandwiched upon the conventional tape at its initial fastening cornerand joined by an integral tie portion lying along the end edge of ofsaid tape and clamped upon said tape, an integral channel-shaped lateralextension on each of said wing members, said extensions jointlyconstituting a slotted socket extending beyond' the longitudinal edge ofsaid tape and lying along the fastener axis, and means for clamping saidWing members securely upon said tapeand maintaining said extensions insubstantially rigid, xed relation with respect to each other, said meanscomprising laterallyextending tongues adjacent each end of said socket,each of said tongues being integral with one wing member, bridging thelongitudinal edge the other of said wing members.

l5. In a pin and socket connection for slide- ,actuated tape fasteners,a one-piece socket construction comprising a spaced pair of wing memberssandwiched upon the conventional tape at its initial fastening cornerand joined by an integral tie portion lying along the end edge of saidtape, a bottom stop for the conventional pin portion of the other tapeelement of the fastener construction, said bottom stop consisting of alateral extension of said tie portion, an integral channel-shapedlateral extension on each of said wing members, said last-mentionedextensions jointly constituting a slotted socket extending beyond thelongitudinal edge of said sandwiched tape and lying along the fasteneraxis, and means for clamping said wing members securely upon said tapeand maintaining said extensions in substantially rigid, fixed relationwith respect to each other, said means comprising a second lateralextension on one`of said wing members bridging the longitudinal edge ofsaid tape and clamped upon the other wing member adjacent the otherwiseuntied ends ofsaid wing members.

16. In a pin and socket connection for slideactuated tape fasteners, aone-piece socket construction comprising a spaced pair of wing memberssandwiched upon the conventional tape at its initial fastening cornerand joined by an integral tie portion lying along the end edge of saidtape, a bottom stop for the conventional pin portion of the other tapeelement of the fastener construction, said bottom stop consisting of a.lateral extension of said tie portion, an integral channel-shapedlateral extension on each of said wing members, said last-mentionedextensions jointly constituting 4a slotted socket extending beyond thelongitudinal edge of said sandwiched tape and lying along the fasteneraxis, and means for clamping said wing members securely upon said tapeand maintaining said extensions in substantially rigid, fixed relationwith respect to each other, said means comprising a laterally extendingtongue intermediate said socket and said bottom stop, said tonguebridging the longitudinal edge of said sandwiched tape and clamped uponthe other of said wing members, and another clamping tongue similar tothe last and bridging said wing members adjacent the other end of saidsocket.

17. In a pin and socket connection for slideactuated tape fasteners, aone-piece male element construction comprising a pair of wing memberssandwiched upon the conventional tape at its initial fastening cornerand inherently united along the longitudinal fastening edge of said tapeby a seamless web integral with both wing members and bent into tubularform constituting the socket-engageable pin of the structure, and meansfor securing said male element to its tape comprising a tongue on one ofsaid wing members bent across the end edge o1' said 18. In aslide-actuated fastener construction,l

a iiexible tape provided, intermediate its ends, with fastening elementsadapted to be interlocked with fastener elements of a complementarytape, a one-piece male connection element consisting of a pair of wingmembers sandwiched upon said iiexlble tape at its point of initialfastening and `inherently united along the longitudinal fastening edgeof said tape by a seamless web integral with both wing members and bentinto tubular form constituting. the -socket-engageable pin .of thestructure, said tape having a short tail portion extending beyond saidwing members, and means for securing said male element to said tapecomprising a wide tongue on one of said wing members bent back upon theother wing member clamping the tail of said t-ape thereupon and clampingsaid wing members together upon the sandwiched portion of said tapeproper.

BARNEY `PRUZAN.

